Cube and balance circuit

[james.l.hill]

I'm trying to set up my Cube and Fromeco balance circuits to charge and balance simultaneously.(A123 2S and LiPo 2S). I purchased the balance circuits separately and for now I''m just charging A123 packs. I dont think the charging and balancing is "synchronized" to the charge cycle, as the charge is finished, but the cells are still a little off: about .1 to .18 difference. I've charged at 1A and 1.5A, the difference is less with the 1A charge. I notice the balance modules blink as long as its connected to the pack, and if I leave it connected after a charge, it will bring the cells equal but the total voltage might only be 7.0V or 7.1V which looks like I'm losing some capacity.
My question is: Should the cells be equal at the end of a charge cycle using the system this way?(The balance circuit is not strapped to the pack, I'm using it in between the Cube and pack.)

[ScottZ]

Jim , you should call Fromeco immediately. I have not gotten my balancers or packs yet, but I think they are supposed to be hooked permanently to the pack and the balancers come on at a set time and balance the packs "all" the time whether charging, discharging or flying. I don't think you are supposed to charge through the balancer. Fromeco could update and make thier website more user friendly. Let me know what you find out?

[james.l.hill]

Scott, the balance circuit starts balancing as soon as I plug it in, assuming there is an imbalance. It doesnt matter whether I'm charging or not, it is always looking for an imbalance. You can just hook it up to a pack alone, it starts balancing(no charger at all). I think the charge and balance in this configuration are independant of each other. Again, I could have it configured incorrect, I had no instructions, manual, nothing to go on. My expectations were at the end of the charge, it would also be balanced, isn't that how a balancing charger works? I might be wrong in assuming I could make it work this way, balancing is a new concept to me, never needed it before, but I was hoping to get r done without buying new charger.
BTW- Sunday is looking good, Sat not!

[james.l.hill]

I tried a full charge once again to be sure, this time the cells were off by .28V,definately not balancing while charging, or at least not balancing at a rate that keeps up w/charging cycle. Will this imbalance cause any harm or capacity loss?? Once again, if I unplug the charger and leave the balance circuit on, the cells will come into balance in 30-45min.
My question is, is this acceptable? Is it safe to fly with packs that don't balance unless you leave the circuit on after charging??? I was planning on charging/balancing Lipo's for my foamies this way too, again, I was hoping to avoid buying another charger. Fromeco has a product here that no one else offers for anywhere near the same price, a 5 channel charger, it would icing on the cake if I could balance cells as well. Just need to hear if my method is OK.

[james.l.hill]

HELLO!!!! ANYBODY HOME??!! I just want to know if this method of charging/balancing is going to be a problem, one cell is getting up to .4V more than the other. The balance circuit brings it back down, but I'm wondering if the damage is already done?